Now Commenting On:

History-making Beltre earns AL Player of Week

History-making Beltre earns AL Player of Week

Adrian Beltre homers in three straight games as part of a week that sees him have a three-homer game and hitting for the cycle in another

By Joey Nowak
/
MLB.com |

After a historic week that included a three-homer game and hitting for the cycle, Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre has been named the American League Player of the Week.

Beltre, who joined Joe DiMaggio (1948) as the only other player in baseball history to hit for the cycle as well as hit three homers in a game in the same week, earns his first AL Player of the Week honor after being recognized three times while in the National League with the Dodgers.

Beltre hit .433 with three doubles, one triple, five home runs, nine RBIs and seven runs scored in seven games. He led the Majors in slugging percentage (1.100) and total bases (33) and was tied for first in hits (13) and home runs and tied for second in RBIs.

"It was about the best week I've ever seen," manager Ron Washington said. "He just kept finding the fat part of his bat."

The 33-year-old hit three home runs in his first three at-bats Wednesday against the Orioles, including a pair of two-run blasts as part of a nine-run fourth inning. It was his first multihomer game of the season and 24th of his career (including the postseason).

"It's fabulous, I'm very happy," Beltre said.

He also homered in a 10-6 win against the Twins on Thursday, marking the first time he had homered in back-to-back games this season.

On Friday, Beltre became the sixth Ranger to hit for the cycle, going 4-for-4 with three RBIs. It was his second career cycle (Sept. 1, 2008, with the Mariners -- also in Arlington -- was the other). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the first player in the modern era to cycle in the same ballpark as a home and visiting player.